Wake Forest Baptist Named Best Hospital in the Triad By U.S. News & World Report

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – July 19, 2011 – Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has been named among America’s top hospitals by U.S. News & World Report and has also been recognized as the #1 medical center in the Triad.

“Being ranked among the best hospitals in the United States, and first among the 20 hospitals in the Triad region is a tremendous achievement,” said John D. Mc Connell, M.D., chief executive officer of Wake Forest Baptist. “It is an independent testament to the quality and safety of our clinical programs, the advanced treatment options that are available for those who are ill or injured, the hard work and expertise of our clinical staff, the growing national reputation of our physicians and the compassionate care provided by our dedicated medical professionals every day.”

To qualify for the national rankings, hospitals or medical centers must meet at least one of four criteria, plus a patient volume requirement in 16 specialty categories. This year, only 140 medical centers and hospitals out of close to 5,000 were named among the nation’s best.

The rankings in 12 specialties are driven by data in four areas: reputation, mortality rate, patient safety and care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. The goal of the rankings is to identify hospitals and medical centers that excel at treating a variety of demanding illnesses within a specialty. Four other specialties are ranked solely by reputation among physicians in each specialty.

In addition to the 140 nationally ranked best hospitals, U.S. News & World Report has identified 587 ‘high performing’ hospitals in 94 metro areas, with populations higher than 500,000, which meet standards for strong performance. These hospitals represent the top 25% of all hospitals in the country.

Wake Forest Baptist has been ranked in “Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report since 1993. The annual guide is available online at www.usnews.com/besthospitals and will be available on newsstands on August 30, 2011.

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